A scorned lover has been sentenced to life imprisonment for murdering his ex-girlfriend’s brother in revenge for her dumping him.

Highly-paid city worker Andrew Morris, 30, stabbed chef Henry Stangroom, 21, in the heart and lungs in Battersea on Thursday, October 17.

Victim: Henry Stangroom

Today he was sentenced to life imprisonment and will serve a minimum of 23 years in prison.

Victim Mr Stangroom also sustained an injury to his head from a harpoon which Morris later shot into his own head during a series of suicide attempts when he realised he had killed his ex’s brother.

Mr Stangroom’s relatives grew concerned for his welfare and police visited the flat they shared in Lavender Sweep, Battersea, where they found Mr Stangroom dead and lying on his bed in a pool of blood.

Morris, who has a young son, was found in the bathroom with slit wrists and a harpoon spear sticking out of his chin.

The court heard how Morris was in a relationship with Mr Stangroom’s sister, Michelle, 28, for three years. The pair went on exotic holidays and he bought her expensive presents including Tiffany sunglasses which Morris later snapped.

The three of them lived together in Lavender Sweep before Miss Stangroom dumped Morris and moved out when he became violent towards her.

In the run-up to the murder Morris, who studied maths at Cambridge University, had been on sick leave for five months and was abusing large amounts of cocaine and alcohol.

The court heard Morris had a history of violent and aggressive behaviour towards his ex girlfriends and had punched one former partner in the stomach and spat in her face.

During his trial at the Old Bailey it was revealed Morris had searched online for 'murder and mental illness sentencing', 'sentencing for murder in the UK' and 'spear gun death accident' in the run-up to the murder.

Detective chief inspector Diane Tudway, Homicide and Major Crime Command, said: "Andrew Morris killed Henry Stangroom in a brutal attack because he felt rejected and because he could not come to terms with that. He has not taken responsibility for his actions and shown no genuine remorse.

“He took Henry away from a loving and close family who have continued to show amazing strength and dignity.

"I am pleased the jury has convicted him today, and whilst it will not alleviate the grief of Henry's family and friends, I hope Morris' conviction goes some small way towards providing them some comfort."

The Stangroom family issued a statement following his conviction and said: “There is no justice for our son and brother, nothing will bring him back.

"The evidence has proved this was a premeditated murder whilst asleep, by a coward hiding behind diminished responsibly.

“We will never be able to come to terms with the loss of Henry, we will never be able to move on, it's impossible not to think of the terror he must have felt being woken with a spear gun wound to the head and then faced with a maniac with a knife he would have been in no position to defend himself. No sentence would be enough.”